The short course “Political Economy” contains a deep scientific analysis of the process of degradation of economic science, which ended with the elimination of political economy and its replacement with marginalism, personified by economics, and in Russia – “economic theory”; the viciousness of identifying economics with chrematistics is revealed; fundamental economic provisions excluded from scientific circulation by marginalists are presented; categories and factors of social production are shown, the essence of which is distorted. The work summarizes different points of view of scientists and practitioners on ways to prevent the collapse of the world economy and create a new financial economic system. The short course is written in simple and understandable language. It uses vivid figurative examples and comparisons; it is designed for a wide range of readers who want to learn the basics of genuine economic science and the prospects for its development.